Article snippet: A feud has erupted inside Washington’s most powerful business lobby. The U.S.-India Business Council’s (USIBC) board of directors voted 29-0 last week to cut ties with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The group’s members include hundreds of corporate giants and high-powered firms. While it cites disagreements over the structure of the council as a reason for the split, the Chamber says the vote will not be recognized because the USIBC has no legal right to separate. The argument centers on whether the council is essentially responsible to the Chamber. While the council handles major policy decisions and considers itself largely autonomous, the Chamber feels it assumes all risk and liability on USIBC’s behalf. The Chamber “will not consent to the demands of a group of disaffected individuals who seek to impact the USIBC’s entire membership by moving USIBC out of the Chamber, where it has operated for decades, into a new entity,” Donohue wrote. The clash with leaders of the council appears to be the culmination of long-running tensions, with both sides now digging in. “While the Chamber does many things well, it does not have the extensive experience in U.S.-India trade relations that our executive committee members, who have been carefully selected based on their unique expertise and strong government and business relationships, do,” a senior person at USIBC told The Hill on Wednesday morning after receiving Donohue’s letter. The Hill spoke with three individuals... Link to the full article to read more
Drama in Chamber as council tries to break off | TheHill
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